Largest water utility in Hawaii to save $56M through energy projects

October 13, 2016

October: Shimogawa: Pacific Business News.

An energy savings project being done by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply is expected to create 129 jobs, $42.7 million in household income and $3.4 million in state tax revenue during the next two decades, the water board said Monday.

During the 20-year period, the measures are expected to generate $56 million in energy savings.

In March, the semi-autonomous city agency reached an agreement on a $33 million contract with Noresco LLC on energy efficiency, renewable energy and operational improvements for the water board that guarantee enough energy savings during the next 20 years to pay for the contract. Theproject’s goal is to reduce the water board’s annual electrical usage by about 8 million kilowatt-hours — 9 percent of its total purchased electricity.

This month, the largest water utility in the state is launching the first of a series of energy conservation measures, beginning with energy efficient light replacements, with additional measures such as solar photovoltaic systems being installed at 30 sites and energy efficient air conditioning upgrades at three of its facilities.